The Best Keyboard Wrist Rests of 2024 (2024)

Our Top Picks

TL;DR: This high-quality, wooden wrist rest looks and feels great—making it a solid choice for almost any setup.

Why We Recommend This

When you search for a good wrist rest for your keyboard, you might default to the squishy, neoprene-coated pads of the past.

While there are a few great options in that category (one of them is later on this list), design and aesthetics have become important considerations when choosing a place to park your forearms.

The Faluber Wooden Wrist Rest doesn’t have the brand recognition you might be looking for, nor is it designed like a Tempur-Pedic pillow, but for me, it strikes just the right balance of style and softness.

While comfort and squishiness are one factor in choosing a wrist rest, arguably the more important use for this peripheral is keeping your wrists level with your typing surface—particularly important if you have a higher-profile mechanical keyboard.

There are many plastic or resin wrist rests out there that do this really well, but they tend to have harsher edges and a harder feel.

The Faluber Wooden Wrist Rest is rigid, for sure, but thanks to its lightly finished, soft-walnut material, it actually feels a bit soft and smooth as you use it. It gives you excellent typing stability and won’t dig into your wrists.

I have a full-sized model of this wrist rest, which means it works great for my 100-percent layout keyboards with number pads, but you can go for a smaller size if your keyboard isn't quite as large. I also love the rugged rubber grips on the bottom that keep it firmly in place, even on my slippery felt desk mat.

To be clear, you can get a more affordable wrist rest for nearly half the price, and a wood-tone aesthetic isn't for everyone. You also can't get around the fact that, even though I find the surface comfortable and welcoming, it's not plush.

And wood will have its challenges over time, so be careful not to spill drinks on it.

But if those trade-offs are workable for you, I can't recommend a high-quality wooden wrist rest like this enough.

• Who else recommends it?Because it's slightly off-brand, the Faluber wooden wrist rest typically only gets mentioned in enthusiast publications like KeebTalk and Don't Waste Your Money—but it's often appreciated for its design and quality.
• What do buyers say?An impressive 4.5 stars out of 5 with a whopping 650+ reviews on Amazon make this a clear winner from a customer-review standpoint.

TL;DR: If you want freedom of movement and wrist-level support, the Carpio 2.0 is a truly unique offering.

Why We Recommend This

Most keyboard wrist rests consist of a single slab of material, carefully padded or contoured to serve as a platform for your arms while you type. DeltaHub set out to reimagine this format with a slick, molded apparatus that sits just under each wrist and moves around your desk with you.

The slidable PTFE feet (similar to those on the bottom of high-quality gaming mice) guide movement. The top is comfortable silicone padding with just a bit of give.

It’s meant to sit under the palm of each hand so that when you shift to typing mode—or if you’re gaming—there’s always something under your wrist keeping it level.

I got my hands on a pair of DeltaHub Carpio wrist rests (and even grabbed a pair of the smaller ones for my wife to use) and spent a week or two using them while I worked. Carpio admits—in both the packaging and on their site—that it could take a couple of weeks to get used to this way of working.

You should be prepared to give these rests a decent chance. My most significant learning curve was remembering not to lift my wrists too high when moving them around.

Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite pleasant to always have a little padded assistant keeping your wrist up.

To be clear, I did find that using the Carpio on my mouse hand was the better use case, as I like a full traditional wrist rest for a keyboard. However, I can see the keyboard support being extra helpful if you’re gaming and only using a few directional keys at a time.

There were a few drawbacks. For starters, you need to get used to the idea that your wrist pad moves around with you, which certainly isn't for everyone.

I also have large hands, so the "large" size was barely big enough for me, and my wife confirmed that the small size felt even a bit cramped for her.

Even though the construction is solid, it's also a tad pricey for what you get. It's also cool to see that Carpio is very collaborative with the product, having partnered with popular YouTubers like RandomFrankP and Linus Tech Tips (there's even a unique colorway for both).

It does feel like a refreshingly unique offering in the space, even if it is tough to get used to.

• Who else recommends it? Many YouTubers and enthusiast boards have had positive experiences with Carpio 2.0, which led to a partnership with Linus Tech Tips.
• What do buyers say? With more than 1500 reviews and a 4.3-star rating on Amazon, Amazon customers love the ergonomics of the Carpio 2.0.

TL;DR: Affordable and comfortable, the Gorilla Grip Wrist Rest is a great budget choice.

Why We Recommend This

My association with wrist rests has largely been gel-filled, stretchy neoprene models that are not dissimilar from stress balls. The Gorilla Grip Silky Gel Wrist Rest is a modern take on this classic design.

I wanted to include a gel-based wrist on this list for a few reasons:

They're undeniably comfortable. Second, they tend to be among the most affordable. I've got a few gel-based wrist rests on hand, but I chose this one from Gorilla Grip because you can't beat it for the price—including a mouseandkeyboard rest.

There are a few color choices here, too, so you'll have some control over how this looks in your space. However, I will admit that if you want a stylish option, you should consider my first-choice wooden model.

Gorilla Grip is known for its home and pet products first and foremost, which seems to mean that its material manufacturing is top-notch. So, it's nice to see that expertise at play with a plush, comfortable wrist rest set. I also like the super-stable rubber base on the bottom to keep it in place.

Of course, it is old-fashioned visually, and while the squishiness will feel greatest to some, it may not be ideal for those who want a lot of support.

Additionally, while water-resistant, these cloth-style wrist rests will get dingey over time—mainly if you buy a lighter color.

But at just above $10, this is an excellent budget choice from a reliable brand.

• Who else recommends it? Gorilla Grip products are often featured prominently in home-and-garden publications, and though there aren't too many reviews of this wrist rest in those places, plenty of forums and YouTube channels have confirmed the brand's quality at large.
• What do buyers say? An impressive 4,400+ Amazon customers have given this wrist rest an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5, praising it for its comfort and value.

Brands We Considered

FAQ

• Is a keyboard wrist rest necessary?

  While anyone can use a keyboard without one, wrist rests offer a lot of comfort and wellness benefits, especially for people who type or play computer games for long periods. Keeping your hands too high or too low, in addition to the repetitive motions, can lead to fatigue, wrist strain, and issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Wrist rests help support your wrists and keep them in a more natural position to avoid those concerns.
  

• How do I clean my keyboard wrist rest?

  Wrist rests can gather dirt, oils, and other stains, but fortunately, most have easy-to-clean coverings or surfaces. Gel pads with plastic or similar smooth exteriors are the simplest to wipe off with a damp cloth or sponge. Foam wrist rests tend to use covers made from fabric, which may require some vacuuming or a bit of detergent, depending on the level of dirt or staining. Generally, you should avoid washing machines and dishwashers since they usually ruin the product.
  

• Should I choose a gel or foam keyboard wrist rest?

  It's a matter of preference. Memory foam wrist rests are more common—they offer soft padding that contours somewhat to the shape of your wrist, but they may stay more flattened over time. Gel wrist rests are squishy, bounce back to shape quickly, and help keep your hands cool. Some users don't like the plastic surfaces they usually come with, though, and sharp objects may puncture and compromise the gel. If these common types don't work for you, alternative materials like leather and wood are also available.

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